Refrigerator



May 28,1935; c. M CSRMAN 2,002,643 4 REFRIGERATOR Filed July 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 A v 17 A v 4 .F 1 F715? Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATOR Charles L. Moorman, Chicago, Ill.

Application July I, 1932, Serial No. 621,133

This invention relates to improvements in a refrigerator by virtue of which a lower temperature can be maintained than is possible in ordinary refrigerators using ice. In ice cooled l refrigerators of conventional design, the ice is placed at thegtop of the refrigerator and holes are arranged in the partitions separating the ice from the space in which food products, etc. are kept, whereby air made cold by the ice may, by virtue of its greater density, move downward into the compartment occupied by the food materials from which the warmer air, by virtue of its lighter density, is displaced upwardly into the compartment containing ice. The warm air then becomes cooled by the ice thus completing the cycle. A tube or other arrangement is also provided whereby the water resulting from the melting of the ice is carried away and kept out of contact with the food material in the refri erator.

In a refrigerator of this type, the circulation of the ,air is comparatively slow because it is dependent only upon a difference in density between the heated and the cooled air. Ordinarily, no attempt is made to utilize the cooling property of the cold water which runs off of the melted ice. The only provision made for it is the conventional drainage by which it is conducted outside of the refrigerator without coming into contact with any of the food products. In many of the refrigerators of this conventional type, it is difficult or impossible to maintain temperature less than 50 to 55 F. It is also very difllcult to maintain uniform temperatures in existing type boxes.

I have now devised a refrigerator in which an increased natural draft of air is maintained. Provision is also made for obtaining the maximum cooling effect of the cold water draining off of the ice as well as the cooling effect of the ice itself. I am able to maintain a temperature in this refrigerator of 44 F. or lower which is much lower than that maintained in any other ice cooled refrigerator of which I am aware.

It is, the an object of my invention to provide a refrigerator so arranged as to enhance the natural circulation of air and also provided with means whereby a forced circulation of air may be had if desired. I

It is a further object of my invention to provide a refrigerator which utilizes the maximum cooling effect of the water resulting from the melting of the ice.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a refrigerator wherein the cooling medium is so positioned and baffled and insulated as to insure a continuous circulation of air within the refrigerator compartment and to assure emcient utilization of the cooling medium.

Other and further objects of my invention will be evident from the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

As shown on the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a vertical section taken from front to back of my improved refrigerator, with parts shown in elevation.

Figure 2 represents a vertical section of a second modification of' my' refrigerator.

On the drawings:

The reference numeral I a indicates, generally, one modification of my refrigerator of which numerals I and 2 represent side walls and 3 a bottom portion. A door 4 provides access to the ice compartment 5 and a door 6 provides access to the food compartment Each of these walls and Y doors is provided with some suitable insulating material which resists the passage of heat. A partition 8 and a floor 9, which are preferably constructed of an insulating material, separates the ice from the food compartment 1. An open shaft through which air may rise from compartment I to compartment 5 is provided at l2. One or more electric fans placed as at it produce a forced draft of airalong a path indicated by arrows. A baffle plate i l serves the double purpose of deflecting the rising air over the ice chamber and preventing any particles of ice, dirt, etc. from falling through the open shaft [2 into the food compartment I when ice is being placed in, or removed from the ice compartment 5. A 5 raised grating, or other arrangement ll supports the ice at a sufilcient height above the floor l of the ice compartment 5 so that the free drainage of the water away from the ice is not interfered with by the ice or other articles which may be placed in the ice compartment 5. A solid metal or other partition l4 forms the back of the food compartment 1 and also provides a continuous surface down which the water draining of! of the floor a may flow thereby spreading said water over a large surface and permitting it to have its maximum cooling effect on materials in the food compartment I and on air circulatin down through the shaft II. A baiile member I! extending horizontally across substantially the entire width of the partition ll interrupts the downward flow of the water upon the partition I causing it to drip off of a lower edge II of the baflle It. The purpose of this baiile is to prevent the water from continuing down the partition ll and running into the compartment 1 through a hole or holes l8 which are provided for the free circulation of cold air from the shaft l5 into the compartment I. The hole or holes I8 may, if desired, be covered by a screen or gauze l9, which does not interfere with the circulation of air but which assists in preventing dirt, ice, etc. falling through theshaft l5 from the ice compartment 5 from getting into the compartment I.

A partition 20 preferably made of metal provides a floor for the food compartment 1 separating it from a water compartment 2|. A

drain pipe comprising members 22 and 26 extends downwardly through the floor 3 and upwardly into a raised portion 23 provided in the partition 20. The water resulting from the melting of the ice flows downwardly along the partition l4 as explained above and accumulates in the compartment 2| filling it to a level 24 which is determined by the position of the upper end of the pipe 22. Thus, it will be seen that the cold water resulting from the melting of the ice must flow down the entire length of the partition l4 and along the entire length of the floor 20 before it can pass out through the drain pipe 22 thus causing it to exertits maximum cooling effect upon the food compartment 1 and any food material contained therein. Due to the height of the drain pipe 22, the compartment 2| will ordinarily be filled with water to the level 24 thus keeping the water in contact with the floor 20 of compartment I. This arrangement permits the maximum cooling effect of the water to be utilized.

when it is desired to remove the water. from the compartment 2], such for example, as when the refrigerator is to be removed to another building, packed for shipment, etc., it is only necessary wwmwoamni' food compartment temperature.

60 is provided so that the plate 49 may be removed when it is desired to clean or empty the reservoir 50. Reservoir 50 is drained by a pipe 5| which communicates with a waste water pan 52 located outside the refrigerator, and drained by a pipe 55. Pipe 5| is adjustable within the sleeve 53 so that the height of the water in reservoir 50 may be varied as desired. a

The flow of air in my refrigerator is in the general direction indicated by arrows 48. It may be accelerated by a fan placed on a bracket 54 if desired. I find it advantageous to make the partitions or baiiles 35 and 31 of an insulating material so that the warm air rising from the food compartment 39 through the shaft 38 will not be cooled until it has come in contact with the ice in the compartment 36. I have found that any cooling effect previous to this time will delay the rise of the air and reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator.

In operation, the water from the ice flows from the upper side of battle 35 down the partition 42 thereby exerting an additional cooling effect upon the food compartment 39. On reaching the baiiie 45 it flows oil? into the reservoir 50.

The height of the pipe 5| is so adjusted that the water draining out of the refrigerator 50 will be at a temperature slightly in excess of the This is still considerably below room temperature so that added efliciency may be gained by holding it close to the bottom of the refrigerator by means of the waste water pan 52.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved type of refrigerator equipped with insulated partitions whereby the natural circulation of air is promoted and with means whereby Mimi Milli i to said upper compartment for ice that water resulting from the melting of ice in said upper compartment will flow down said partition, and a container adapted to collect the water flowing down said partition and hold itin intimate contact with the underside of the bottom member of said container for food, and means for creating a forced draft of air in each of said shafts.

3. In a refrigerator, an insulated casing, a solid ice supporting means intermediate the upper and lower walls ofsaid casing and joining two sides thereof, a baiile formed of an insulating material and extending upwardly from one side of said supporting means and a second baiiie extending downwardly from the other side of said supporting means, said first mentioned battle in combination with a side wall of said casing forming a shaft through which air from below said ice supporting means may pass upwardly to the top of said insulated casing, and said second bame in combination with a second side wall of said casing forming a shaft through which air may pass from above said ice supporting means to the bottom of said casing.

. 4. In a refrigerator, an insulated casing formed of a heat insulating material, a solid icesupporting means intermediate the upper and lower supporting means may pass upwardly to the top of said insulated casing, and said second.

baflie, in combination with a second side wall of said casing forming a shaft through which air may pass from above said ic'e supporting means to the bottom of said casing, said ice supporting means being made of a heat insulating material.

CHARLES MOORMAN. 

